Or, like Calisthenes, be cag'd for life,

Rather than shine in fashions of the east.

Eum. Let me, brave Clytus, as a friend intreat you. Heph. What virtue is there that adorns a throne, Exalts the heart, and dignifies the man,

Which shines not brightly in our royal master?
And yet perversely you'll oppose his will,
And thwart an innocent unhurtful humour.

Clyt. Unhurtful! oh, 'tis monstrous affectation! Pregnant with venom, in its nature black,

And not to be excus'd 1. -Shall man, weak man!
Exact the rev'rence which we pay to Heaven,
And bid his fellow-creatures kneel before him,
And yet be innocent? Hephestion, no;
The pride that lays a claim to adoration
Insults our reason and provokes the gods.

Eum. Yet what was Jove, the god whom we adore?
Was he not once a man, and rais'd to heaven
For gen'rous acts and virtues more than human?
Heph. By all his thunder and his sov'reign power

I'll not believe the world yet ever felt
An arm like Alexander's.—Not that god
You nam'd, tho' riding in a car of fire,'
Could in a shorter space do greater deeds;
Or more effectually have taught mankind
To bend submissive, and confess his sway.

Clyt. I tell you, boy, that Clytus loves the king
As well as you or any soldier here;

Yet I disdain to sooth his growing pride:

The hero charms me-but the god offends.

Heph. Then go not to the banquet.

Clyt. Why, I was bid,

Young minion-was I not, as well as you?
I'll go, my friend, in this old habit, thus,
And laugh, and drink the king's health heartily;
And while you blushing bow your heads to earth,
And hide them in the dust—I'll stand erect,
Straight as a spear, the pillar of my country,
And be by so much nearer to the gods.
Heph. But see, the king appears.

Enter ALEXANDER, STATIRA, SYSIGAMBIS, PARISATIS, and Attendants.

Par. Oh, gracious monarch!

Spare him, oh, spare Lysimachus's life!
I know you will- -the brave delight in mercy.
Alex. Shield me, Statira, shield me from her sor-

rows.

Par. Save him, oh save him ere it be too late!
Speak the kind word; let not your soldier perish
For one rash action by despair occasion'd.
I'll follow thus, for ever on my knees;

You shall not pass. Statira, oh intreat him!

Alex. Oh, madam! take her, take her from about

me;

Her streaming eyes assail my very soul,

And shake my best resolves.

Stat. Did I not break

Thro' all for you? Nay, now my lord, you must: By all th' obedience I have paid you long,

F

By all your passion, sighs, and tender looks,
Oh, save a prince whose only crime is love!
Sys. I had not join'd in this bold suit, my son ;
But that it adds new lustre to your honours.

Alex. Honour! what's that? Has not Statira said it?

Were I the king of the blue firmament,

And the bold Titans should again make war,
Tho' my resistless thunders were prepar'd,
By all the gods she should arrest my arm
Uplifted to destroy them! Fly, Hephestion,
Fly, Clytus; snatch him from the jaws of death,
And to the royal banquet bring him straight,
Bring him in triumph, fit for loads of honour.

[Exeunt Heph. &c.

Stat. Why are you thus beyond expression kind? Oh, my lord! my raptur'd heart,

By gratitude and love at once inflam'd,

With wild emotion flutters in my breast;

Oh, teach it then, instruct it how to thank you!

Alex. Excellent woman!

'Tis not in nature to support such joy.

Stat. Go, my best love; unbend you at the banquet;
Indulge in joy, and laugh your cares away;
While in the bowers of great Semiramis

I dress your bed with all the sweets of nature,
And crown it as the altar of our loves,
Where I will lay me down and softly mourn,

But never close my eyes till you return. [Exeunt Stat.
Alex. Is she not more than mortal can desire,

As Venus lovely, and Diana chaste?

And yet I know not why our parting shocks me;
A ghastly paleness sat upon her brow,

Her voice, like dying echoes, fainter grew,
And as I wrung her by the rosy fingers

Methought the strings of my great heart were crack'd. What could it mean? Forward, Leomadus.

Enter ROXANA, CASSANDER, and POLYPERCHON. Why, madam, gaze you thus ?

Rox. For a last look,

And to imprint the memory of my wrongs,
Roxana's wrongs on Alexander's mind.

Alex. On to the banquet.

Rox. Ha! with such disdain !

[Ex. Alex. &c.

So unconcern'd! Oh, I could tear myself,

Him, you, and all the hateful world to atoms.
Cas. Still keep this spirit up, preserve it still,
And know us for your friends: we like your rage:
Here in the sight of Heaven Cassander swears,
Unaw'd by death, to second your revenge:
Speak but the word, and swift as thought can fly
The tyrant falls a victim to your fury.

Rox. Shall he then die shall I consent to kill him?
I that have lov'd him with that eager fondness,
Shall I consent to have him basely murdered,
And see him clasp'd in the cold arms of death?
No, Cassander!

Worlds should not tempt me to the deed of horror.

Poly. The weak fond scruples of your love might

pass

Was not the empire of the world concern'd;

But, madam, think when time shall teach his tongue, How will the glorious infant which you bear

Arraign his partial mother for refusing

To fix him on the throne which here we offer?
Cas. If Alexander lives you cannot reign,
Nor will your child: old Sysigambis plans
Your sure destruction; boldly then prevent her:
Give but the word and Alexander dies.

Poly. Not he alone, the Persian race shall bleed: At your command one universal ruin

Shall like a deluge whelm the eastern world,
'Till gloriously we raise you to the throne.

Rox. But 'till this mighty ruin be accomplish'd
Where can Roxana fly the avenging arms
Of those who must succeed this godlike man?

Cas. Would you vouchsafe in these expanded arms
To seek a refuge, what could hurt you here?
There you might reign with undiminish'd lustre
Queen of the east, and empress of my soul.

Rox. Disgrac'd Roxana! whither art thou fall'n? 'Till this curs'd hour I never was unhappy: There's not one mark of former majesty To awe the slave that offers at my honour.

Cas. Impute not, madam, my unbounded passion To want of rev'rence I have lov'd you long. Rox. Peace, villain! peace, and let me hear no more. hou I'd leave the bosom of a god